A terror alert in Brussels sparked over a suspect wearing "a long coat with wires hanging out" has turned out to be a false alarm.

The man was pictured on his knees with his hands behind his heads as firearms police trained their guns on him.

A bomb disposal team and robot were spotted at the scene.

Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported:“The police operation in the area around the Place de la Monnaie in Brussels is a false alarm. Police had closed off the area after a suspicious man was spotted in the area.

“The man was spotted with a thick winter coat and wires were visible,” said Police Commissioner Christian De Coninck.

A security guard from a private security company noticed the man and hit the alarm.

The suspect is a student who is researching radioactivity in Brussels, it has been reported.

The editor of the digital edition of HLN.BE wrote in a tweet: "Situation #Muntplein cleared, suspect was student doing research on radioactivity inside #Brussels, police said they feared explosives.”

The dramatic stand off this afternoon comes as the capital prepares to celebrate Belgium's National Day tomorrow.

European cities remain on high alert following a spate of terror attacks including the Nice atrocity which left 84 people dead on Bastille Day.

According to local press, a security guard alerted police to a man acting suspiciously this afternoon.

The scene in Brussels (Image: @Jean__Baptiste/Twitter)

A large security cordon was put in place around the scene (Image: @Jean__Baptiste/Twitter)

He was said to be wearing a thick, winter jacket with wires hanging out on a hot day in Brussels, according to reports.

Police arrived and a large security cordon was put in place in the Place de la Monnaie area.

A bomb disposal robot is sent in towards the suspect (Image: @Jean__Baptiste/Twitter)

Police are determining if the suspect is wearing any explosives (Image: @Jean__Baptiste/Twitter)

Police Commissioner Christian De Coninck added: “The police have the suspect under control.”

The area around the incident is still cordoned off and the bomb squad is investigating the man’s property.